Residential greenness and substance use among youth and young adults: Associations with alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use

Evan R Wiley; Saverio Stranges; Jason A Gilliland; Kelly K Anderson; Jamie A Seabrook

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113124

Residential greenness and substance use among youth and young adults: Associations with alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use

Environ Res. 2022 Sep;212(Pt A):113124. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113124. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

Authors

Evan R Wiley¹, Saverio Stranges², Jason A Gilliland³, Kelly K Anderson⁴, Jamie A Seabrook⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Geography and Environment, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; School of Health Studies, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Brescia University College, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: jseabro2@uwo.ca.

PMID: 35339465
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113124

Abstract

Introduction: Research has identified positive associations between green space and physical and mental health outcomes. Substance use outcomes, however, have received considerably less attention. This study investigates the association between residential greenness and substance use through an analysis of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use among youth and young adults.

Methods: This study utilized three waves (2016-2018) of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), as well as residential greenness data from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Consortium (CANUE). Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore variation in the pattern of substance use between greenness quartiles. The sample included 14,070 youth and young adults (15-25 years).

Results: Residential greenness was not associated with alcohol use in general but was associated with lower odds of frequent binge drinking. Residential greenness was also associated with lower odds of tobacco use and greater odds of marijuana use.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that residential greenness is associated with patterns of substance use. The strength and direction of association, however, is highly contingent upon the substance under investigation. Living in greener neighborhoods may confer certain benefits to substance use and abuse among youth and young adults.

Keywords: Green space; Greenspace; Mental health; Substance use.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Canada / epidemiology
Humans
Marijuana Use* / epidemiology
Nicotiana
Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
Tobacco Use / epidemiology
Young Adult